'Thirty-eight.'
Marilyn nods to herself, looking off, adding it up. 'So you were fifteen when you had me.' Takes a sip of coffee. 'That's young.'
Callie says nothing. Marilyn looks at her. I don't see any anger there, just curiosity. I wish that Callie would notice it.
'So tell me all about it.'
Callie looks off. Sips her water. Looks back at Marilyn. I try to be still and unnoticeable. It's funny, I think. We show up, guns drawn, with a story about a serial killer. But what Marilyn wants to know about first is her mother. I wonder at this, wonder whether it says something good or ridiculous about us as human beings. Callie starts speaking, slow at first, then picking up speed, telling the story of the charming Billy Hamilton and the overbearing Thornes. Marilyn listens, not prompting, sipping her coffee. When Callie finishes, Marilyn is quiet for a long time. She whistles. 'Wow. That sucks.'
I grin. Definitely very Callie. Mistress of the understatement. Callie remains silent. She's the picture of someone waiting for judgment to be passed. Marilyn waves a hand, a gesture of dismissal. 'It wasn't your fault, though.' She shrugs. 'I mean, it sucked. But you were fifteen. I don't blame you.' It comes out as an abrupt statement. Callie looks down at the coffee table.
Marilyn catches her eye. 'No, really. I don't. Look, I did get adopted, by great people. They love me, I love them. I've had a good life. I guess it should all be more momentous somehow--and it is, don't get me wrong--but I haven't spent twenty-three years feeling betrayed or hating you.' She shrugs. 'I don't know. Life isn't all straight lines and square pegs. From what I can see, it's been harder for you than it has been for me.' She's quiet for a moment. When she starts speaking again, her voice is tentative. 'I did wonder about you sometimes. And I have to admit, the truth is better than what I imagined. Almost a relief, really.'
'What do you mean?' Callie asks.
Marilyn grins. 'You could have been a crack whore. You could have given me up because you hated me. You could be dead. Trust me, this explanation is a lot easier to take.'
These words seem to have an almost magical effect on Callie. I watch as color flows back into her skin, life back into her eyes. She sits up straighter. 'Thanks for saying that.' She pauses. Her eyes go back down to her lap. 'I am sorry.' God, she sounds woebegone. I just want to hug her.
Marilyn's eyes twinkle. Her voice chides. 'Stop beating yourself up. Kind of makes sense, though.'
Callie frowns. 'How's that?'
'Well, look at me. Did you notice the baby? And the Ms., not Mrs., Gale?'
Callie's eyebrows lift. 'You mean . . .'
Marilyn nods. 'Yep. I had my own Billy Hamilton.' Another shrug.
'But that's okay. He's gone, and I have Steven. It's more than a fair trade. My parents are supporting us and are going to make sure I get back and finish college.' She smiles. 'I like my life. It's turned out fine.'
She leans forward, making sure Callie is looking at her. 'You need to know that what you did, it didn't ruin me, okay?'
Callie sighs. Taps her fingers. Looks around the room, sips her water. Thinks about this. 'Well, hell.' She smiles. 'It feels strange to be let off the hook so easily.' She hesitates and reaches into her purse. 'Want to see something?' she asks Marilyn. She pulls out the baby photo I had seen and hands it over.
Marilyn examines it. 'That's me?'
'The day you were born.'
'Wow, I sure was ugly.' She looks up from the photo at Callie.
'You've carried this around with you since then?'
'Always.'
Marilyn hands the photo back to Callie. Her eyes are gentle. What she says next is Callie, all the way.
'Gee, this is a real Lifetime made-for-TV moment, huh?'
Shocked silence, then we all burst into laughter.
It's going to be okay.
28
WE ARE UPSTAIRS, on Marilyn's computer, looking at the Red Rose site.
'I wish that was me,' she says. 'But trust me, it isn't.' She smiles at Callie. 'My boobs aren't that big. And I have stretch marks on my tummy.'
'Simple cut and paste,' Callie says. 'Your face on the body of Ms. Topless.' She runs a hand through her hair. 'He did it just to mess with me. He even registered the domain to you. That's how we got this address--he led me here.'
Marilyn turns away from the computer. 'Am I in danger? Are we--
Steven and I--in danger?'
Callie doesn't reply right away. Weighing her words. 'It's possible. I can't be sure. You don't fit his profile, but . . .'
'Serial killers are unpredictable.'
'Yes.'
Marilyn nods, thinking. I am surprised that she is not more fearful.
'This is almost enough to make me rethink my major.'
Callie frowns. 'What's your major?'
'Criminology.'
Callie's mouth falls open. So does mine. 'You're kidding.'
'Nope. Weird, huh?' A lopsided grin. 'Coincidence?' she says, sotto voce. 'I think not!'
A smile ghosts across Callie's face. 'Strange days, indeed.'
'Most peculiar, Momma,' Marilyn quips back, not missing the opening or the reference to the John Lennon song. They both laugh.
'I don't want to take any chances,' Callie says, serious again. 'I'm going to arrange for police protection until this is over.'
Marilyn nods, accepting this. She's a mother; she's not going to turn the offer down. 'You think it's going to be over at some point?'
Callie gives her a grim smile. It's filled with all kinds of promises for Jack Jr. 'We're good, Marilyn.' Callie points at me. 'And she's the best. Bar none.'
Marilyn looks me over. Examines my scars. 'Is that true, Agent Barrett?'
'We'll get him,' I say. I decide to leave it at that. Confident, without my own self-doubts. 'We usually do. These guys almost always screw up. He will, and that will lead us to him.'
Marilyn looks back and forth between us. Seems to accept this.
'What now?' she asks.
'Now,' I say, 'Agent Thorne is going to call the local police and set up a twenty-four-hour watch on your home. I'm going to call the team and let them know what's happening. They're probably all jumping out of their skins.'
We make our calls. Alan's relief sounds visceral. Callie meets no resistance from the locals.
'They're on their way,' she says.
I don't want to say it, but I have to. 'We need to do the same once they arrive. We have to get back.'
She hesitates, then nods. 'I know.' She turns to Marilyn, biting her lower lip. 'Marilyn . . . can I . . .' She laughs, shaking her head. 'This is all so surreal and bizarre, honey-love. But . . . can we get together again?'
Marilyn's smile is immediate. 'Of course we can. On one condition.'
'What's that?' Callie asks.
'You tell me your name. I can't call you 'Agent Thorne' forever.'
We are sitting in the car. Callie hasn't started it yet. She is gazing at her daughter's house. I can't decipher her expression or guess at her thoughts.
So I ask the obvious question. 'How are you?'
She continues to look off before turning to me. Her face is tired, but thoughtful.
